Course Overview

Introduction to Statistics

This course, Elementary Statistical Methods (MATH 1342), provides a comprehensive introduction to statistics, focusing on the collection, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of data, as well as probability. The curriculum covers descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and the use of technology in statistical analysis.

• Course Title: Statistics

• Credit Hours: 3

• Course Format: Online, asynchronous

• Required Materials: Pearson MyStatLab, TI 84+ calculator

• Prerequisites: Placement by testing or concurrent enrollment in MATH 0242

Core Curriculum Objectives

Skills Developed

The course is designed to foster critical thinking, communication, and empirical & quantitative skills. These objectives are achieved through creative thinking, inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, and manipulation of numerical data.

• Critical Thinking Skills (CT): Analysis, evaluation, synthesis

• Communication Skills (COM): Written, oral, and visual communication

• Empirical & Quantitative Skills (EQS): Manipulation and analysis of numerical data

Student Learning Outcomes

Key Competencies

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

• Explain the use of data collection and statistics as tools to reach reasonable conclusions.

• Recognize, examine, and interpret the basic principles of describing and presenting data.

• Compute and interpret empirical and theoretical probabilities using probability rules and combinatorics.

• Explain the role of probability in statistics.

• Analyze and compare various sampling distributions for discrete and continuous random variables.

• Describe and compute confidence intervals.

• Solve linear regression and correlation problems.

• Perform hypothesis testing using statistical methods.

• Apply the Central Limit Theorem to the sampling process.

Course Structure and Schedule

Weekly Topics

The course is organized into weekly modules, each covering specific topics in statistics. Below is a summary of the tentative schedule:

• Weeks 1-2: Introduction to statistics, observational studies, experiments, sampling methods, and bias.

• Weeks 4-5: Organizing qualitative and quantitative data, graphical misrepresentation, measures of central tendency and dispersion, outliers.

• Week 6: Five-number summary, boxplots, scatter diagrams, correlation, regression.

• Weeks 8-9: Probability rules, addition and multiplication rules, discrete random variables, binomial distribution, normal distribution.

• Weeks 11-12: Sampling distributions, confidence intervals for means and proportions.

• Weeks 13-15: Hypothesis testing for means and proportions, review, final exam.

Assessment and Grading

Grade Components

Grades are determined by a combination of discussion forums, homework assignments, reviews, tests, and a final exam. The breakdown is as follows:

Letter Grade Assignment

Course Policies and Student Support

Attendance and Participation

Students are expected to attend and participate in all class activities, including online discussions and assessments. Attendance is tracked, and students may be dropped for missing two weeks of classes.

• Electronic Devices: No cell phones or electronic devices during exams.

• Withdrawal: Students must officially withdraw before the "W" day to avoid a failing grade.

Academic Integrity and College Policies

Lone Star College enforces strict policies regarding academic integrity, student conduct, course withdrawal, and privacy. Students are encouraged to review the Student Handbook and LSC Catalog for comprehensive guidelines.

• Academic Integrity: Honesty in all academic work.

• Student Code of Conduct: Appropriate behavior in all college environments.

• Disability Services: Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities.

• Student Support Services: Tutoring, library, mental health resources, career services, and more.

Technology Requirements

Required Tools

Students must have access to a computer with a webcam and microphone, capable of running Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. A TI 84+ calculator is required for coursework.

• MyStatLab Access: Required for homework, quizzes, tests, and multimedia learning aids.

• STAR Bundle: Provides access to all required course materials.

Tentative Course Schedule

Weekly Breakdown

The course schedule is organized by week, covering all major topics in introductory statistics. A detailed to-do list will be posted weekly on D2L.

• Week 1: Introduction to Statistics, Observational Studies vs Designed Experiments

• Week 2: Sampling Methods, Bias, Design of Experiments

• Week 4: Organizing Data, Graphical Misrepresentation

• Week 5: Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion, Position, Outliers

• Week 6: Five Number Summary, Boxplots, Correlation, Regression

• Week 8: Probability Rules, Addition and Multiplication Rules

• Week 9: Discrete Random Variables, Binomial Distribution, Normal Distribution

• Week 11: Sampling Distributions, Confidence Intervals

• Week 13: Hypothesis Testing

• Week 15-16: Review and Final Exam

Conclusion

This syllabus outlines the structure, objectives, and requirements for the Elementary Statistical Methods course. Students are expected to engage actively, utilize required technology, and adhere to college policies to succeed in this foundational statistics course.